“Cops Are Cool!”
Laila Alexander and I stand with her drawing at our feet.
By Justin Hill.Ai
At first glance, it might look like something you’d see on a classroom bulletin board. But this wasn’t just any drawing. It was created by Laila Alexander, a young Black girl, a high school student and daughter of a police officer. She’s the daughter of my co-worker, Joe Alexander. She drew this entirely on her own. It wasn’t for a school project, extra credit or because someone told her to. She drew it simply because it’s what she believes.
And that’s why it’s so powerful.
This wasn’t a sketch of a police officer. It was a drawing of a little black girl before society could sink its teeth in her and dictate her way of thinking wearing a police hat. For Laila, she wasn’t admiring from the outside. She was stepping into the identity, claiming space, and in a way, forcing viewers to becoming the image. That choice alone makes the message bigger than any debate, any headline or any social media argument.
I asked Laila for her permission to do something with it. I wanted the image to sit in a larger frame—one that tells the full story. With her blessing, I placed the drawing over the American flag. Not for drama. Not for controversy. But to make a point: This is what belonging looks like.
Here’s the truth: in this country, we don’t just argue about policing. We argue about everything. We question someone’s worth based on how they vote, who they support, or what they choose to believe. We judge each other quickly, harshly, and too often, unfairly.
What gets lost in that chaos is what matters most: Doing right by our people.
Not just politically but morally, culturally and communally.
Laila proudly autographs her work
Laila’s drawing reminds us, it’s not just about police. It’s about possibility. It’s about integrity. It’s about the fact that a young Black girl in a world where division is often louder than truth chose to see herself as part of the solution.
That’s not immaturity. That’s vision. That’s leadership.
It challenges us as adults, especially as Black fathers, uncles, mentors, and leaders—to ask: Are we doing the right thing for our kids? Are we building a world that honors their creativity and protects their courage? Are we showing them that belief doesn’t have to bow down to bitterness? Because this young girl didn’t just draw a picture. She sent a message:
“I see something good in this world, and I’m not afraid to say it.”
That’s the kind of strength we should be encouraging. That’s the kind of voice that deserves to be amplified. That’s what BlackDad is about/ It’s showing the world what it looks like when we lead with heart, when we choose responsibility, and when we honor the voices of our children, especially when they tell the truth through art, through love, and through hope.
This isn’t just a drawing. It’s a mirror. And what it reflects is a future worth believing in.